Fishing device



-2 1946- J. L. PoTi'ER 2,406,252

FISHING DEVICE Filed Nov. 23,- 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I? Y JOSEPH Z. Parr 5P,

Aug. 20, 1946. LPQTTER V 2,406,252

FISHING DEVICE Filed Nov. 25,-1 944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .ZVVENTOP,

- Jess /7' A. Pqr m fir w l Patented Aug. 20, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE H 2,406,252 r :1" FISHING DEVICE 7 Joseph L. Potter, Indianapolis, Ind. ApplieationNovember 23, 1944; Serial No. 564,769

'eonims. (Cl. 43-.-49)

This :invention relates to a IcomblnatiQmnshing device made in two. sectionswherebyshifting'of one section relative to the other section willpermit passing of a line betweenthe sections toenter a groove carried inatleast one. of those sections. The invention permits not only the use of: the structure as afloat for. still fishing, but provides for .its use as a casting plug, and also when properly weighted, asa means for disengaging a hook on a line fromsome'submerged ob- J'ect, such as a log. Other. objects and advantages of .the invention will .becomeapparent to those versed in the art-in the following description of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which .Fig. 1 is a view in. side "elevation. of a structure embodying the invention;

"Fig.2,atop plarwiew;

Fig. 3, an under-side. elevation: with one oflthe' sections revolvedin relation to the other 90 degrees from the normal position; v

Fig. 4, a view in transverse vertical section on the line 4-4 in Fig. 2; r

Fig. 5, a view in side elevation of a slightly modified form of the invention;

Fig. 6, atop plan view thereof;

. F g. 7, a bottom plan view withthe under-sew tion revolved 90 degrees in respect tothe upper section; and l a .,Fig. 8, a view in side elevation of the structure'with its elements disposed. as indicated in Fig. 7.

,Like characters of reference indicate .like parts throughout the several viewsin the drawings.

Referring first to that formof the invention as illustratedin Figs. 1-4, the float isformed:.by upper and lower members I and II respectively normally held one against the other preferably with frictional or compressive engagement by any suitable means, herein shown as by meansiof a through bolt l2, the underside of whichis provided with a head l3 having an eye I4 therethrough. When the two sections In and Hare aligned one with the other, they may assume the general over-all exterior contour desired. Where the structure is to be employed selectively as for a float at one time and a castin lug at. an-

other time, the over-all shape may be lozenge formed as illustrated.

.One of the members, herein shown'as lower member II, is provided with a longitudinal. slot [5 acrossits upper face normally covered by the upper member Ill; The bolt 12 passeslthrough bothmembers l0 and. .to one sideofthe slot.

l5. The: purpose. or this ,slot :Ifiis to: receive therethrough the line'l6 preferablywith-airerunnlngfit. y

To facilitate entran'ceof the linelfinto the longitudinal slot IS; a mid-portion ofthe member H is cut away from the outer side backto' the slot to form the recess 'IT- longer than thewidth of the member [0, Fig, 3. The line IG' -maybe looped under the member I0,-Fig. 3, in the posh tion indicated by the dash lines and then pulled over the member ll until it drops into the slot 15, when the member Ill isturned rel'ativeto the member H to some such" position as indicated in Fig. 3 whereby ends of therecess l lareluncovered. The purpose of the recess l1-- ls' to=give clearance between the two'memberslll and jl back to the slot 15. e

When the line I6 is thus. posltione'd' through the slot I5 the -members 10 and H are relatively" turned one with respect to theotherbacktotheir positions as indicated in Figs l, 2;and 4'. 'Ih e interengaging means-the bolt-l2 intl'le present form, is preferably made to hold these two-members lU'andH firmly one against the othe'fto prevent normal displacement; A safety meansmay beadded; herein shown as in the-nature of a split ring I8 which elastically engagesaround the two members l0 and -'l I 1 to Y prevent relative turningg thereof one in-= respect to. the other. e p

The line l6 may be allowedto run-freely through the slot I5 if desired so that thereis relative movement between thefloat and the line. Itmay be desirable to attach a hook [9 to the" float, such as through the leader20' by a' clasp 2| passing through the eye of the bolt head I 3.

A knot 22 may be placed in the-line [6 to limit the relative-outward travel of thejfloat along the line 16 particularly in reference to the extreme outer'portion of the line I6 which may carry a sinker 23. Of course, theouter endof'the line It may carry a hook (not shown) in the usual manner whereby the members Ill and If-being of any suitable buoyant material will serve'in the customary manner as afloat.

Referring to the other form of the invention as shown in Figs. 5--8, the same twomembers H0 and III are indicated as one being a complementary part of the other to form a complete:

float member. In this case, the member l'l ll is' provided with the longitudinal groove l5 entirelythereacross to receive the line It as before. the other member H0 is providedwith a recess" 24 thereacross cut back far enough; Fig. '8; to extend over the groove l5 whenthe twomembers- H0 and III are revolved degrces apart; The

purpose of the recess 24 is to permit easy inser tion of the line l6 across and within the groove l without having to take apart the two members H0 and III or separate them a suflicient distance to give clearance for the line therebetween. As indicated Fig. 7, the line- I6 is brought up into the recess 24 and then shoved back across the face of the member I I l' until the line may e dropped into the groove 15, se'ouring'l olt -l2;"isljplaced to 'one side;- of :the groove and back ofthe recess 2'4"'so asto be clear of the line I 6.

As indicated in' Fig. 5, this form, as well a 3 the form shown in Figs. 1-4; may be employed as" I a casting plug by placing a, line or even a wire leader 25 in the groove l5 whereby'one end of the leader 25 may carry anysuitable lure ?'6 on one end and have some line engaging means on the other end, such as the usual swivel 21. 1 Then 1 in addition a hook maybe attached to the head ofthegboltylzas before, all asjmay bedesired by the user to meet hisown conditions andwhims.- As-:above, indicated themembers l0 and H or tinand I] l particularlywhen used as a float are made'outof any buoyant material suchas wood, cork, and the like. Assuming that the fioat is being-i used'in the manner indicated in Fig. 1

wherein the line IB is free to slide through the floatparticularly under the influence of the sink-. er. 23;carrying; the line down toward the bottom of; the-water; and further assuming that the lower end of'thatline; libeoomes, snagged uponsome submerged object, then the float may have sufficient weight appliedthereto to cause ,it,to sink and; slide. down the line lfiand drop: below the submerged article so asto applya downward pull 3 onthegline' rather than. an; upward pull; In

many jnstancesthis action will tend to release:

the linefromtheqbiect. 1

Th sl J $130.

wide rangeoiguses whereby thesingle structure beseen that invention permits 1 maybe-employed in place, of many other 'struc-, 'tures restricted to but one uselfl'While the mem-j ber 12 has been referred to as a bolt, it, may 3 simplybea postanchored-in one'member' with, the other member rotatably mounted thereon, 1 the ssentialypurpose being thatthere be relative,

o m n b t en the. two membe andJJ: and llllland'lll to permit 1 of thelin'ellifromtherebetween, While I have herein shown my invention .in i thebest forms as now known to me, it i obvious that structural variations may b employed, par-i 1 ticularly in the shaping of; t he variousv members, 1 with the interengagement between the two body 1 membersjand other materials maybe employed, all without departi from the spirit of the; invention, and I therefore do, not desire tobe lim-' ited to those precise forms beyond the limitations as maybe imposed by the following claims.

insertion and removal -,Icl aim: l

For fishing purposes, a device to be used in ltos id g 183901 onpqsitevtothatnfsaid-recess; i1;

therein; said securing means consisting of a post around whic h one of said parts may rotate in respect to the other; one oil said parts being recessed from one edge on'its side opposite the other part, said recess extending across the side to said groove, said post being on the side of said groove opposite to that of said recess; said recess being in that part containing said groove.

3. For fishing purposes, a device to be used in conjunction-with a leader or inga two part body; means shiftably securing said two 'parts one to the other; one of said parts having a groove thereacross to receive slidingly therein Isaid 'line; and said other part being normally. positioned across the groove to' retain the, line therein; said 'sec'uring means consisting of a post around which one of saidpartsmay rotate in respect to the other; one of said parts being recessed-fromone edge on'its side opposite the other part, said recess extending-"across" the side to said groove-said postlbeing on the side of said .groove opposite to that of. said recess; said recess bein limited'in length adjacent said post to leave full thicknessof-the recessed part on each side of the recessffor bearing against said other part to serveas'means retaining the line within said groove. v 4

4. For fishing purposes, a deviceto be used inconjunction with a'lea'der or a line comprising a two part body; meansshiftablysecuring said two parts one to the other; oneof saidparts having a .groove. thereacross to receive slidingly therein said line; and said other 'part being normally positioned across the groove to retain the line therein; said-securing means consisting of a post around which one of said-parts may rotateinrespectto-the other; i one of said ;parts being recessed from one edgeon its side-opposite the other part, said'recess extending across the side to said'lgroovefsaid post beingonthe sidelof said zgroove opposite toithat of said recess said recess being in said other part I w w a :5.-. In a fishing' device to operate in" conjunctionwitha-leader or a'line, a two'p'art body fit ting one part against the otherby matching'surfaces; a-postinterengaging the two body" parts to have one part at least rotatablearoundthe'ioost whereby the surface of one part "will Shift Daralleliwith-that of the other part; agroove across the surface of one part opening ,fromopposite sides-thereofv and deep enough to receive slidingl'y said line thereacross; and thesaidsurface of-sagid grooved part being recessed in part for'adistance greater than thelwidth' of said other part wh'en rotated substantially at right 6. In azfishing device to tion with-a leader or at line; a two part bodyfit ting one part against the-other by matching sure faces; a post interengaging the two bodyparts to have one. part at least rotatable around-the angles thereto.

post whereby the surface 'of -o'ne part'will shift: other part; a groove parallel with that of the across the surface of onefpart opening from op posite-sides-=thereof and deep enough .to receive slidingly. said line thereacross and the-said si1rface of the non-grooved part being rec'essedifor a distance} from said groove to outside of-the edge of l the grooved pm {as "measured when the 'noma line compris- V operate in 'coniunc grooved part is rotated to approximately ninety degrees from its normal position over said groove.

'7. In a fishing device to operate in conjunction with a leader or a line, a two part body fitting one part against the other by matching surfaces; a post interengaging the two body parts to have one part at least rotatable around the post whereby the surface of one part Will shift parallel with that of the other part; a groove across the surface of one part opening from opposite sides thereof and deep enough to receive slidingly said line thereacross; and the said surface of said grooved part being recessed in part for a distance greater than the width of said other part when rotated substantially at right angles thereto; said post being to that side of said groove removed from said recess.

8. In a bobber or carrier, two segments, and a post carried by on segment, the post engaging the other segment to tighten one segment against the other and also carrying means for attaching a leader thereto, one of the segments having a groove thereacross opening toward the other segment to carry a line along which the segments may travel.

JOSEPH L. POTTER. 

